Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Excess stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Excess stock, shares authorized	150,000,000	150,000,000
Excess stock, shares issued	0	0
Excess stock, shares outstanding	0	0
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	50,000,000	50,000,000
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	250,000,000	250,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	154,650,973	154,537,378
Common stock, shares outstanding	154,572,073	154,458,478
Treasury common stock at cost, shares	78,900	78,900
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	1,725,828
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	152,846,245
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 22,288,800	$ 21,649,896
Right of use assets - finance leases (amount related to VIEs of $21,000 at September 30, 2019)	237,394
Accumulated depreciation	(5,164,353)	(4,897,777)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	751,210	543,359
Tenant and other receivables	102,155	86,629
Accrued rental income	1,003,033	934,896
Deferred Charges, net	689,768	678,724
Prepaid expense and other assets	110,308	80,943
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,952,006	2,964,572
Lease liabilities - finance leases	221,029
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	421,269	276,645
Accrued interest payable	83,177	89,267
Other Liabilities	$ 356,338	$ 503,726
Redeemable deferred stock units - units outstanding at redemption value	54,610
Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	92,000	92,000
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage	5.25%	5.25%
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share)	$ 2,500.00	$ 2,500
Series B, shares issued	80,000	80,000
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	80,000	80,000
Boston Properties Limited Partnership
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Shares Outstanding	16,821,620	16,783,558
NonControlling Interest Redeemable Partnership Units Common Units Long Term Incentive Units At Redemption Value Shares Outstanding	1,189,117	991,577
General Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	1,725,828	1,722,336
Limited Partners' Capital Account, Units Outstanding	152,846,245	152,736,142
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 21,893,001	$ 21,251,540
Right of use assets - finance leases (amount related to VIEs of $21,000 at September 30, 2019)	237,394
Accumulated depreciation	(5,061,727)	(4,800,475)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	751,210	543,359
Tenant and other receivables	102,155	86,629
Accrued rental income	1,003,033	934,896
Deferred Charges, net	689,768	678,724
Prepaid expense and other assets	110,308	80,943
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,952,006	2,964,572
Lease liabilities - finance leases	221,029
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	421,269	276,645
Accrued interest payable	83,177	89,267
Other Liabilities	$ 356,338	$ 503,726
Redeemable deferred stock units - units outstanding at redemption value	54,610
Boston Properties Limited Partnership | Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Series B Dividend Rate Percentage	5.25%	5.25%
Series B, Liquidation Preference Per Share (dollars per share)	$ 2,500	$ 2,500
Series B, shares issued	80,000	80,000
Series B, Shares Outstanding (in shares)	80,000	80,000
VIE
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	$ 6,462,315	$ 7,481,015
Right of use assets - finance leases (amount related to VIEs of $21,000 at September 30, 2019)	21,000
Accumulated depreciation	(1,027,583)	(965,500)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	280,253	296,806
Tenant and other receivables	25,259	15,519
Accrued rental income	292,668	272,466
Deferred Charges, net	218,634	263,402
Prepaid expense and other assets	58,057	26,513
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,921,499	2,929,326
Lease liabilities - finance leases	20,148
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	44,013	75,786
Other Liabilities	129,185	200,344
VIE | Boston Properties Limited Partnership
Real Estate Investment Property, at Cost	6,462,315	7,481,015
Right of use assets - finance leases (amount related to VIEs of $21,000 at September 30, 2019)	21,000
Accumulated depreciation	(1,027,583)	(965,500)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	280,253	296,806
Tenant and other receivables	25,259	15,519
Accrued rental income	292,668	272,466
Deferred Charges, net	218,634	263,402
Prepaid expense and other assets	58,057	26,513
Mortgage notes payable, net	2,921,499	2,929,326
Lease liabilities - finance leases	20,148
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	44,013	75,786
Other Liabilities	$ 129,185	$ 200,344